Circle time/Speed

87'sFan · Oct 7, 2015

Before the fall season started I was scared my daughter wouldn't get a lot of circle time because of conflict with team PC. Well the opposite happened team PC is gone and my daughter is getting the bulk of circle time. In three tournaments she has pitched in 12 out of 17 games. Cool I like that they trust my daughter but how much is too much circle time? This is 10u BTW.

Another question. I have never checked my daughters speed she is only 10 her private PC has not cheecked either so I figure not to important yet. Over the last week or so other parents have been asking me how fast does your daughter throw? I shrug my shoulders. Someone broght a radargun to practice I went the other way. Then people are saying are you sure you don't want to know how fast she is throwing? I said maybe next time. When should I start looking at her speed?

Rocketech1 · Oct 7, 2015

Nothing wrong with knowing how fast your DD is pitching so that you have a bench mark for progress. Just make sure you are not so obsessed with speed to the detriment of solid pitching mechanics. At 10u, I would bring out the radar gun about once a month. Also note that when she gets to 12U travel ball, most coaches at tryouts and throughout the season will be tracking velocity progress of pitchers. When she reaches 12u, it's a good time to think about getting the RevFire system that measures the spin rate of the ball for her movement pitches.

Forgot to answer your other question about how much pitching is too much?

Since most tournaments have time limits (typical in my area is 1 hour, 20 minutes no new inning until the semi/finals) she will probably only be pitching 5 innings a game on average. 5 innings x 18 pitches per inning = 90 pitches per game. I don't think 2 games a day is a problem (10 innings). If she pitches all 3 games a day, that could be an issue. You also need to remember that she throws pitches in pregame warm-ups and in-between innings that add to her pitch total. The other factor is if your team is in the losers bracket, you might have to play 5 games on Sunday. The coach needs to have at least 2 solid pitchers to effectively navigate that scenario. I always remind myself that DD needs her arm and shoulder for the rest of her life, long after she hangs up the cleats.

You could have a talk with the head coach to see if he will split time between the #1 and #2 pitchers better. For example, frequently in pool play we will have a pitcher pitch 3 innings and then swap out to a new pitcher to keep both of them fresh.

grcsftbll · Oct 7, 2015

We only check speed once every 6-8 weeks at lessons. We don't have a radar gun. Mine's 10U also. I wish we had your problem! I have a thread going right now with the opposite problem.

kenny 77 · Oct 7, 2015

Don't get caught up in the speed thing too much. Like the others have said, use it more as a tool to measure progress if you want to. We usually only get clocked once a year at the World Series.

We played a team last fall (16U) and their pitcher threw what I thought was really hard. Faster than we were used to so I asked the opposing coach and the girls dad happened to be standing behind the dugout so he directed the question to him. He told me, "she's been clocked at 58 mph but probably throws consistently around 55-56". I told him, "I respect your answer because you could have told me 60+ and I would have believed you because I know of at least (3) 14 year olds who's parents say they have been clocked at 60+ and she throws harder than they do"

. He just smiled and said, "why lie, we gauge her on how affective she is on the mound". Well, she was pretty affective against us that day and I'll never forget talking to him and his humble approach.

GoCaboNow · Oct 7, 2015

Ha! Careful what you wish for.

Great replies above and DD is very similar. I also think that kids can be different, so I'm sure you will find your number.

DD uses her legs a lot in her motion. When her legs tire she tends to over throw with her arm trying to keep her velocity, and compete. Obviously not a good combination.

GoCaboNow · Oct 7, 2015

Oops, forgot, speed. We do a Revfire at the PC about once a month, if we are going consistently once a week. When just me on the bucket we use the PR as much as we can. I like it to show how she is progressing, but also puts her under pressure to throw hard in practice, even in accuracy drills and speed for CU.

"Throwing hard" can be problematic as when she TRIES to throw hard she can lose some whip. Really reminds me of my golf swing.

But, eventually, she will find a rythm of trying to throw hard and keeping that extra whip. I think it is worth it as since we have gone to this her in game motion is very similar to her practice.

In 10u she got away with taking something off until she got comfortable. Just turned 10, played 12u fall ball this year. I told her she could not get away with that at 12u and she has really responded throwing her pitches without holding back - unless she is trying to take something off. I have caught over 20,000 pitches from her in the last year. I have a pretty good idea of where she is at with velocity by the look of her motion now, but the gun still helps quantify.

87'sFan · Oct 8, 2015

Rocketech1 said:
Nothing wrong with knowing how fast your DD is pitching so that you have a bench mark for progress. Just make sure you are not so obsessed with speed to the detriment of solid pitching mechanics. At 10u, I would bring out the radar gun about once a month. Also note that when she gets to 12U travel ball, most coaches at tryouts and throughout the season will be tracking velocity progress of pitchers. When she reaches 12u, it's a good time to think about getting the RevFire system that measures the spin rate of the ball for her movement pitches.

Forgot to answer your other question about how much pitching is too much?

Since most tournaments have time limits (typical in my area is 1 hour, 20 minutes no new inning until the semi/finals) she will probably only be pitching 5 innings a game on average. 5 innings x 18 pitches per inning = 90 pitches per game. I don't think 2 games a day is a problem (10 innings). If she pitches all 3 games a day, that could be an issue. You also need to remember that she throws pitches in pregame warm-ups and in-between innings that add to her pitch total. The other factor is if your team is in the losers bracket, you might have to play 5 games on Sunday. The coach needs to have at least 2 solid pitchers to effectively navigate that scenario. I always remind myself that DD needs her arm and shoulder for the rest of her life, long after she hangs up the cleats.

You could have a talk with the head coach to see if he will split time between the #1 and #2 pitchers better. For example, frequently in pool play we will have a pitcher pitch 3 innings and then swap out to a new pitcher to keep both of them fresh.

Thanks for the input checking for a bench mark is a great idea just don't want to be one of those Dad's running around telling people how fast his kid throws. I sure don't want to mess up her mechanics for speed anyway to hide a radar gun from pitcher.

I think with her circle time no other pitcher has shown that they can be consistent so they always bring in my daughter. Last Saturday My daughter did end up Pitching all 3 games started the 1st and 3rd game came in the 2nd game in the 1st with 1 out. Sunday they got bounced in one game started another girl again my daughter came in the 1st with 1 out. That's too much for one weekend right? Don't want this to turn into a habit on her team.

quincy · Oct 8, 2015

Count her pitches and see how much she is actually throwing, count warmup pitches too.

87'sFan · Oct 8, 2015

quincy said:
Count her pitches and see how much she is actually throwing, count warmup pitches too.

Good idea!Any ball park figure of a limit of pitches?

Rocketech1 · Oct 8, 2015

87'sFan said:
Thanks for the input checking for a bench mark is a great idea just don't want to be one of those Dad's running around telling people how fast his kid throws.

Nobody said that you have to tell people how fast she throws. You can keep it between your DD and yourself. But I think measuring progress is important and knowing speed (and spin rates as she gets older) gives your DD some objective metrics for improvement.

Circle time/Speed

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